Argumentative Essay (CCP COMP)

Define an argumentative essay

• convince readers to accept controversial position

• argue your position w/ logical rzns to help support your position

• opens reader to a different perspective and may even convince them

4 Purposes to why someone would construct an argumentative essay (3!)

1. change reader’s mind by looking at issue in a new way

2. confirm readers’ opinions by providing researcher’s arguments

3. have readers take action by stressing seriousness

4. remind what is at stake and that there is common ground to agree on

3 assumptions about the audience (2!)

1. already know about issue

2. mildly interested, need inspiration to care abt issue

3. strong feeling on topic (most likely to disagree on your position)

4 Basic Features

1. A focused, well-presented issue

2. A well-supported position

3. An effective response to opposing views

4. A clear, logical organization

to IDENTIFY the issue, a reader must look at the…

title and opening paragraph

writers must focus on ___ ______ of a greater issue (so it’s less complex)

one aspect

for the death penalty, a less complex subtopic would be..

Are white men more likely to receive death penalty?

How to ‘Frame an Issue’

• WHAT side does the writer take and WHO do they associate with?

• how did the writer affect your thinking

What is a POSITION?

an opinion that can be supported by REASONS and EVIDENCE

what are the two things that support a position?

• reasons

• evidence

where to find the position?

THESIS

What is a Forecasting Statement?

gives the REASONS authors will develop LATER in their essay

a position can NOT be ______, ONLY _________

proven, supported

Logos

intellect with reasoning and evidence

• logic

Ethos

perception of writer’s credibility and fairness

• credibility

Pathos

values and feelings

• ‘passion’ (feelings)

Refute

argue against opposing views to explain why problematic

refuting importance

to show that the opposing views are WEAK and has PROBLEMS

2 Typical refutations

• ‘one problem with <opposing view> is that…’

• ‘some claim <opposing view>, but in reality…’

Contrast transitions used in a refutation:

although, but, however

Conceding

accept objections

conceding importance?

REASSURES readers that the writer shares their values and builds a bridge of COMMON GROUND

Concession-Refutation move

sentence patterns

• transitions→ indicate contrast

beware of LOGICAL fallacies like..

• oversimplifying

• personal attack

• slanting

• false analogy

oversimplifying

ignoring other possibilities

slanting

suggesting something is not true

false analogy

compares things that are unalike

personal attack

criticizes the person instead of problem